How to Install qBittorrent on Linux Mint 21 or 20

For Linux Mint 21 or 20 users seeking a reliable and efficient torrent client, qBittorrent emerges as a top contender. This open-source torrent client, known for its simplicity and robust features, offers an unparalleled experience for downloading and sharing files via peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. Unlike many of its peers, such as uTorrent, Transmission, and KTorrent, qBittorrent promises an ad-free interface, devoid of any bundled software or unnecessary toolbars, making it a favorite among those who value both privacy and a clutter-free experience.

Here’s a closer look at what qBittorrent brings to the table:

• Ad-Free Experience: Navigate without the distraction of pop-ups or unwanted ads.
• No Bundled Software: Install qBittorrent without worrying about additional, unwanted software or toolbars.
• Magnet Link Support: Easily use magnet links for a more streamlined downloading process.
• Remote Control: Access and manage your downloads remotely through a web user interface.
• Sequential Downloading: Opt for downloading files in sequence rather than randomly.
• IP Filtering: Enhance security by filtering out specific IP addresses.

For those ready to integrate qBittorrent into their Linux Mint environment, this guide will provide a step-by-step walkthrough on installing qBittorrent on Linux Mint 21 or 20. We’ll utilize the command line terminal and tap into the official qBittorrent LaunchPAD PPA APT repository. This approach ensures that you’re equipped with the latest stable version of qBittorrent and are set up to receive automatic updates, keeping your software experience smooth and up-to-date.

Step 1: Update Linux Mint before qBittorrent Installation

Before installing qBittorrent, it’s essential to ensure your system is up-to-date. Open the terminal and run the command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Required Packages for qBittorrent on Linux Mint

Once your system is up-to-date, you must install the necessary dependencies for qBittorrent. Run the command:

sudo apt install dirmngr ca-certificates software-properties-common apt-transport-https -y

This command will either install the necessary packages or check if they are already installed.

Step 3: Import qBittorrent PPA on Linux Mint

To install qBittorrent, import the “qBittorrent Team” PPA containing the latest version. Run the following command to import the PPA:

Option 1: Import qBittorrent stable PPA for Linux Mint:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable -y

Option 2: Import qBittorrent unstable PPA for Linux Mint:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-unstable -y

Step 4: Install qBittorrent – Desktop GUI Method on Linux Mint

After importing the qBittorrent PPA repository, you must run a quick APT update to reflect the newly added PPA. This will ensure your system recognizes the new repository and can install qBittorrent.

To run the APT update, open the terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt update

This command will update your system’s package list to include the newly added qBittorrent PPA. Once the APT update is complete, you can proceed with installing qBittorrent using the updated package list using the following command:

sudo apt install qbittorrent

How to Launch qBittorrent – Desktop GUI Method

To launch the qBittorrent desktop version of stable or unstable, you can use the following command in your terminal session:

qbittorrent

If you prefer to launch qBittorrent using an application icon, you can use the following path:

Taskbar > Internet > qBittorrent

Example:

When you first launch qBittorrent, you’ll have a pop-up window containing a legal notice. This notice is a standard disclaimer that many torrent clients display, and it’s essential to read it carefully to understand the risks and responsibilities of torrenting.

After agreeing to the legal notice, you’ll see the qBittorrent interface. This is where you can manage your torrent downloads and uploads. The interface is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, even for novice Linux users.

In the qBittorrent window, you’ll see a menu bar at the top with options for adding torrents, managing downloads, and configuring the application settings. You can also see the progress of your current downloads, including the download speed, remaining time, and the number of seeds and peers.

Example:

Step 5: Install qBittorrent-nox – Web-GUI (Optional) on Linux Mint

qBittorrent can be installed on a Linux desktop or a headless server like Ubuntu and efficiently managed using a WebUI interface accessible from your favorite browser. This guide will cover installing qBittorrent-nox, the headless version of qBittorrent, designed to run through a web interface accessible on the default localhost location at http://localhost:8080.

To install qBittorrent-nox, start by updating your system’s package list using the following command:

sudo apt update

Next, install qBittorrent-nox using the following command:

sudo apt install qbittorrent-nox

qBittorrent-nox is the default go-to for headless clients, and unlike the desktop version, you won’t be able to do anything while qBittorrent is running if you launch it through the terminal. Instead, you’ll need to create a systemd service unit to run in the background and start at system boot.

To do this, first, create a qbittorrent-nox user and group using the following command:

sudo adduser --system --group qbittorrent-nox

Next, add your username to the qbittorrent-nox user group using the following command:

sudo adduser your-username qbittorrent-nox

Example using my username:

sudo adduser joshua qbittorrent-nox

Example output:

After this, create a systemd service file for qbittorrent-nox using the following command:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/qbittorrent-nox.service

Copy and paste the following lines into the file:

[Unit]
Description=qBittorrent Command Line Client
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=forking
User=qbittorrent-nox
Group=qbittorrent-nox
UMask=007
ExecStart=/usr/bin/qbittorrent-nox -d --webui-port=8080
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Example:

Save the file (CTRL+O), then exit (CTRL+X). Now, reload your systemd daemon for changes to be active with the following command:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Now you can start qBittorrent-nox with the following command:

sudo systemctl start qbittorrent-nox

If you want qBittorrent-nox to be started on boot, use the following command:

sudo systemctl enable qbittorrent-nox

Before you continue, it’s a good idea to check the status to ensure everything is working correctly using the following command:

systemctl status qbittorrent-nox

If there are no errors and the status is green, then qBittorrent-nox is now installed and ready to use. You can access the WebUI by opening a web browser and navigating to http://localhost:8080. The default account username is (admin), and the password is (adminadmin), but you should change these credentials as soon as possible for security reasons.

Accessing qBittorrent Web UI

qBittorrent’s web user interface (Web UI) can be accessed from your local network using your favorite web browser. To access the Web UI, type the server’s internal IP address and port number (8080). For example, if the server’s IP address is 192.168.55.156, you would type 192.168.55.156:8080 into your web browser’s address bar. If you are accessing qBittorrent on the same computer installed, you can use the localhost address 127.0.0.1:8080.

After entering the address, you should see the qBittorrent Web UI page. This page provides you with an easy-to-use interface for managing your torrents. You can add new torrents, monitor your download and upload progress, and adjust your settings from the Web UI. The interface is similar to the desktop version of qBittorrent, so if you’re familiar with the desktop version, you should have no trouble using the Web UI.

By default, the Web UI access is secured; the default account username is “admin,” and the password is “adminadmin.” It’s recommended that you change these credentials as soon as possible to ensure the security of your system.

Example of qBittorrent-nox on Linux Mint dashboard:

It’s highly recommended to change the default username and password for your qBittorrent Web UI to ensure the security of your system. First, open the Web UI using Tools > Options > Web UI > Authentication.

Next, you can change the default username and password to something more secure. Choosing a strong and unique password is important to prevent unauthorized access to your system. You may also consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords.

Changing the default username and password is a quick and easy step that can significantly enhance the security of your system. By taking this simple precaution, you can ensure that your system is protected from potential security threats.

Additional Tips for qBittorrent on Linux Mint

Update qBittorrent or qBittorrent-nox on Linux Mint

Keeping your qBittorrent up-to-date is essential for optimal performance and security. Updating and upgrading qBittorrent can be done quickly and easily using the command line terminal. First, run the following command to update your system and ensure all packages are current.

sudo apt update

Upgrade to the latest version using the following command if an update is available for qBittorrent or qBittorent-nox.

sudo apt upgrade

Remove (Uninstall) qBittorrent or qBittorrent-nox on Linux Mint

If you decide to remove qBittorrent from your system, it’s a simple process. First, you need to remove the custom PPA that you added. Use the following command to remove qBittorrent if you installed it using the desktop GUI.

sudo apt remove qbittorrent

If you installed qBittorrent-nox, use the following command.

sudo apt remove qbittorrent-nox

Finally, remove the PPA that you imported with the following command.

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable -y
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-unstable -y

Once you’ve removed qBittorrent, you can repeat the installation process to reinstall it on your system. Keeping your software up-to-date and removing any unnecessary programs is an integral part of maintaining the performance and security of your Linux system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, qBittorrent is an excellent and reliable torrent client for Linux with many features. It’s a great choice for users who want to download and manage their torrents with ease. QBittorrent is known for its user-friendly interface, ad-free experience, and low resource usage compared to other popular torrent clients.